Cartridge-deflecting means for self-loading repeating firearms



June 6, F HUMESTON CARTRIDGE-DEFLECTING MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING REPEATING FIREARMS Filed Dec. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I l I l l I I I I I I I I I ll I I IA: I l I I I I I I I I I I I 'h` I I I l I I I r.. l)

l l l I l I I I I I Ih .IIIJIIIIIIlIlI I I I I l I lIrIIIIIl IIIIIIIII l I I June 6, HUMESTQN CARTRIDGE-DEFLECTING. MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING REPEATING FIREARMS Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAItTRIl)GEDEF;I9,:JIGNGGK4 MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING REPEATING FIREARMS Frederick L. Humeston, Hamden, Conn., assignor to Western Cartridge Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Delaware 6 Claims.

- The present invention relates to improvements in self-loading repeating firearms, and relates more particularly to means for such firearms whereby ejected cartridge-casings will be deected away from the person of the marksman.

It may here be noted that self-loading repeating rearms so violently eject cartridge-casings Vthat there is grave danger that the marksman will be struck by `such cartridge-casings or at least will have his vision blurred, on occasion, by an ejected cartridge-casing momentarily interrupting the line of sight.

`One of the objects of the present invention is to provide superior cartridge-deecting means for self-loading repeating firearms, which means may be relied upon to effectively deiiect cartridges away from the person of the marksman without unduly complicating the mechanism of the firearm. C I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-loading repeating firearm with superior cartridge-deflecting means which will supplement the normal ejection-means in directing ejected cartridge-casings in a harmless path.

A further object of the present invention is to provide superior cartridge-deecting means for self-loading repeating firearms and so constructed and arranged as to dynamically supplement the normal ejection-means in such rearms and eiectively and positively drive the ejected cartridge-casing in a direction away from the person of the marksman.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the` art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel ,over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.`

YIn the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrativeA purposes: y, Fig` l isa view in side elevation of a selfloading repeating rearm embodying the present l invention;

Fis. 2 is a broken view of the central portion of the firearm and showing the same partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central-longitudinal section with the vparts in the positions which they assume at the instant of the dis- Lcharge of the rearm;

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the structure of Fig. `2;

Fig. 4 is a broken top or plan View substantially corresponding to Fig; 3,\but showing the parts in the positions which they assume when the breech-bolt has been retired substantially the length of a cartridge-casing;

Fig. 5 is a top or plan view substantially corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 but illustrating the parts in substantially the `positions which they assume when the ejected cartridge-casing engages With the deecting-abutment of the action-slide during the forward movement of the latter;

Fig. 6 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top or plan View of the breech-bolt unit detached;

Fig. 8 is a broken view in central-longitudinal section taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and

'Fig 10 is a broken perspective view of the rear portion of the action-slide, and viewing the same mainly toward the rear and inner face thereof. f

The particular self-loading repeating firearm herein chosen for purposes of illustrating the cartridge-deflecting means of the present invention includes in the main, a stock I5, a receiver I6, a trigger-plate I1, a barrel I8 and a barrelcover or hand-guard I9. The receiver IB, trigger-plate I1 and barrel I8 are rigidly secured together vand are preferably formed of highgrade steel, and the stock l5 and barrel-cover or hand-guard I9 are preferably formed of wood or other suitable 'heat-insulating material.

The barrel I8 is rigidly attached to the bandlike forward end 20 of the receiver I6, and has the usual axial'bore 2| extending longitudinally therethrough. -Immediately to the rear of its band-like forward end 20, the receiver I6 is cut away to form an ejection-opening I6a opening mainly upwardly and partly laterally from the hollow interior ofthe receiver. The rear end of the bore 2I in the barrel I8 is reamed or otherwise shaped to provide a cartridge-chamber 22 in the usual manner of firearm-barrels.

Reciprocating in the upper portion of the hollow interior of the receiver I6, is a breech-bolt 23 of substantially-cylindrical form which also has oscillatory movement for being locked and unlocked with respect to the receiver I6 in a 'manner generally -simil'ar to that employed in the well-known Garand militaryrrie. Adjacent its forward end; the said breech-bolt 23 is provided with two `oppositely-extending lateral locking-lugs 24 and 25 formed integral with the said breech-bolt. The locking-lugs 24 and 25 of the breech-bolt 23 are respectively'engageable with from the bore 2| of the barrel I8 will pass through the gas-passage 39 with the eiect of driving the piston 40 rearwardlyuntil the rear face of its head 40a strikes the forward face of the tubular stop-member 42. This rearward movement of the, piston as just described, while but of short length, will drive the action-slide 3U rearwardly against the tension of the breechclosing spring 36 until the said action-slide reaches the limit of its rearward travel'or to about the point represented by the broken line A in Fig. 5.

As soon as the action-slide, starts rearwardly under the impulse of the piston as above referred to, the contours of the cam-recess 28 of the said action-slide will first cause the breech-bolt to be turned slightly in a clockwise Vdirection when viewed from the front with the effect of disengaging thelocking-lugs 24 and 25 of the breechbolt from the complemental locking-abutments 26-26 of the receiver H5. The turning movement of the breech-bolt as just described will effect its rotation into substantially the position in which it is indicated inFig. 6, so that both the cartridge-ejector 49 and the cartridge-extractor 53 will also be shifted with the said breech-bolt. Y i

Following the unlocking of the breech-bolt as above described, the continuedfrearward movement ofthe action-slide 39 under the impulse imparted to it as previously described, will carry the said breech-bolt 23 rearwardly with great rapidity and since 4the .cartridge-extractor 53 moves with the said breech-bolt, the cartridgecasing 44 or its equivalent will be drawn rearwardly. out of the cartridge-chamber 22. For purposes of description, the breech-bolt ,and the cartridge 44 may be assumed to have now reached the positions in which lthey are shown in Fig. 4.

As soon as the forward end of the cartridgecasing 44 clears the rear end ,of thebarrel I8, the spring-pressed cartridge-ejector 49 will be` free to swing the forward end Yof the said cartridgecasing upwardly and to ltl'ieright and about theV e extractor-nose 51 ofthe cartridge-extractor 53 as a center. The rearward travel of the breech-bolt 23 and the parts carried thereby is so rapid, however, that both the said vbreech-bolt and the action-slide 30 will have been moved to the limit of their rearward travel and will have rebounded forwardly to substantially the positions inwh'ich they are shown by full linesin Fig. whenthe cartridge-casing l44 has swung substantially into the position in which it is represented byfull lines in Fig. 5. Under these vconditions, `the action-slide as well as the breech-bolt will be moving forwardly and the forwardly-facing cartridge-deecting abutment, 60 of the said actionslide will strike the cartridge-casing 44 and posi-j tively drive the said cartridge-casing,forwardly and to the right along a path of flight substantially indicated by the broken lines B in Fig. 5 and hence away fromthe person of the marksman and from his line of sight.

To achieve the effects above referred to` the cartridge-deflecting abutment 60 of the actionslide 30 is extended into a position crosswise of the firearm so that it will be struck by the cartridge-casing when the same is thrown upwardly and outwardly by the combined actions of the cartridge-ejector 49 and the `cartridge-extractor 53. In other words, the action-slide 3l) or its equivalent is so shaped with respect to the path of flight of the cartridge, as mainly determined by the positions of the parts 49 and 53, as to be engaged by the cartridge-casing to deflect the same forwardly and to one side as above described. Furthermore, the best results are secured when the tension of the ejector-spring 50 is carefullypredetermined so that the cartridgecasing 44 will not be flipped thereby into the position represented by full lines in Fig. 5, until the action-slide 30 and its abutment 60 are travelingforwardly under the combined effects of rebound and the breech-closingl spring 36.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the'invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all Y changes coming within the meaning and equivilu alency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A self-loading repeating firearm-structure including in combination: a receiver having an ejection-opening; a breech-bolt reciprocating in the said receiver; an extractor carried by the said breech-bolt; an ejector carried by the said breech-bolt; ejector-spring means also carried by the said breech-bolt and urging the said ejector forwardly relative to the said breech-bolt;

r.an action-slide associated with the said receiver and operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for shifting the same and' in a manner permitting limited relative movement between the action-slide and breech-bolt, the said action-slide having va forwardly-facing cartridge-deflecting abutment extending substantially crosswise of the ejection-opening in the said receiver; springmeans urging the said action-slide forwardly; and actuating-means effective upon the discharge of the rearm to retire the said actionslide rearwardly; the said extractor and the said ejector vbeing positioned on the said breech-bolt to throw a cartridge-casing against the cartridge-defiecting abutment of the said actionslide.

2. A self-loading repeating firearm-structure including in combination: va receiver having an ejection-opening; a breech-bolt reciprocating in the said receiver; an extractor carried by the said breech-bolt; an ejector carried by the said breech-bolt; ejector-spring means also carried by the said breech-bolt and urging the said ejector forwardly relative to the said breech-bolt; an

action-slide associated with the said receiver and l operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for shifting the same and in a manner permitting limited relative movement between the actionslide and breech-bolt, the said action-slide having a forwardly-facing cartridge-deflecting abutment extending substantially crosswise of the ejection-opening in the said receiver; springmeans urging the said action-slide forwardly; and actuating-means effective upon the discharge of the firearm to retire the said actionslide rearwardly; the said extractor and the said ejector being positioned on the said breech-bolt to throw a cartridge-casing intovthe path of the cartridge-defiecting abutment of the said actionslide, and the said ejector-spring means being tensioned and thereby timed to throw a cartridge-casing into the path of the cartridge-deflectng abutment of the said action-slide after the same has completed its rearward movement and during the forward travel of the said cartridge-deecting abutment to cause the ejected cartridge-casing to be positively driven forwardly -by the -forward movementof the said act-ion- 4slide.

3.' A self-loading repeatingfirearm-structure -including in combination: a receiver havingan upwardly-opening ejection-opening; a breech-. 'aboltj rvreciprocating in the vsaid receiver beneath thev said Yejection-opening 'i'.herein;A van extractor carried by the said :breech-bolt; Aan ejector car- .ried by the said breech-bolt; .ejector-spring means also carried by `the said breech-bolt and furging the said 'ejectorforwardlyrelative to the said :breech-bolt; an action-slide associated withA the said receiver. andreciprocating to one .side

offthepath `of movement of the Vsaid breech-bolt, the said action-slide being operatiyelyconnected :to fthe said-breech-'bolt for shifting the samepand Y.in-.a manner permitting vlimited relative movement between the action-slide and :breech-bolt, the said action-slide having a forwardly-'facing cartridge-deflecting abutment extending trans'- .Versely of the firearm-structure and crosswise of Y the upwardly-opening ejection-opening inthe d saidreceiver; breech-closing spring means urging the s aid action-slide forwardly; and `actuating-means yelective upon the discharge -of the -rearm toretire the saidaction-slide rearwardly;

the said extractor and the said ejector being po- -sitioned onthe said breech-bolt to throw acartridge-casing against the cartridge-deflecting abutment of the said action-slide. y H n 4. A yself-loading repeating firearm-structure including in combination: a receiver having an upwardly-opening ejection-opening;

rcarried by the said breech-bolt; an ejector carried by thesaid -breech-bolt; ejector-spring means also carried vby the said breech-bolt and Aurging the said ejector forwardly relative to the "said breech-bolt; an action-slide associated with VAthe said receiver and reciprocating to one side of a breechi bolt reciprocating in the said receiver beneath vthe said ejection-opening therein; an extractor the path of movementv of the said breech-bolt,

the said action-slide '.beingloperatively connected to the said breech-bolt for shifting the samev and rina "manner: permitting limited Arelativegmovement between the 'action-slide and--breech-bolt,

fth'e 4said faction-slide having a forwardly-'facing .rcartridge-deecting abutment extending -transr` versely lof vthe firearm-'structure 'and fcrosswise of "th'e upwardly-openingejection-opening n in the --said receiver; breech-closing-spring means -ur'g- Jing the :said action-slide forwardly; fandactuating-meanst eiective Vupon: the .discharge of -the V5. A self-loading repeating 'firearm-structure 'including-in combination: `a receiver having an .upwardly-opening.` .ejection-opening; a; breechibolt reciprocating in. the `said receiver:` beneath the said ejection-opening therein; an` extractorV 4carried by the s aid breech-boltranY-ejector carl- `ried "by-the .said breech-bolt; ..ejector-spring means also arriedbythe saidbreech-boltand urging the saidejector forwardly relative to the -said breechbo1t; an action-slide associated with the said receiver for `reciprocation:to one side of the path of movement of the said ,breech-bolt `and formed. gwith an :upwardly-and-inwardly-in- -clined .-lug projecting `over -the said breech-bolt to,a point `closely approaching the vertical-longitudinal center thereof, the said .lug having a forward ;face extending substantially transversely 'of the. said breech-bolt l to provide a cartridge-rdeflecting abutment; breeclfi-closingspring means urging the-said `action-slide forwardlyyand actuating-means `effective upon the discharge.of-.thezrearm to retire the Vsaid actionslide rearwardly; the said extractor and the lsaid ejector -being positioned onthesaid breech-bolt to throw va cartridge-casing. .against the ca r- -tridg'e-.deflecting abutmentfof the4v said .actionslide. 1 6. .A self -loading repeating rearm-structure n including inecombination: Va receiver having an `upwardly-opening ejection-opening; a breechbolt` reciprocatinglin .the said receiver beneath the said .ejection-.opening therein; l an extractor -carried by .the said .breech-bolt;v an ejectorcarried-,by the said breech-bolt; ejector-spring meansalso carried by the. said breech-bolt and .ur-gingjthe .said ejector forwardlyrelative .to the .said breech-bolt; .an action-slide associatedl with the said ,receiver for reciprocation-to one ,side

of the l.path Vof .movement lof the said breech-boltA and :formed .with .an upwardly-and-inwardly-inclined lug projecting over the said, breech-bolt l. toi. a ,point. 'closelyi approaching the vertical-lorigitudinal center thereof, the said llug havingy a forward face extending substantially.transverse- -`1y -4 of :thesaidbre'ech-bolt to provide. afcartridge- `deflecting Labutrnent; I' breech-'closing-spring means urging lthe 'saidaction-slide forwardly; and Vactuating-means .effective upon the dis.- .charge-of thefrearmtorretirethe said action- J slide rearwardly.; thesaid extractor and thersaid nejector being` positioned on j the .said breech-bolt to throw a'cartridge-casing intorthev .path ofthe "cartridge-deflecting,abutmentof the said action- Yslifde',and the'fsaidfejectorfspring means being 551; tensioned and thereby `timed to tl'lrowV a .cartridge-casing into. Vthe,pathloi the cartridge-, de-

fleeting abutmentof utheLsaidaction-slideY after l the same`has .completed its rearward movement land during the 'forward' travelffolffthe said: car- Vtridg-deflectrlg t abutment to cause the ejected cartridge-casing to be positively, driven forwardly '.by thelfforrward nur )verrientA of the said actionslide..V

' f VFREDEfrtroK`1;, HUMEsToN. 

